US 12,172,368 B2
Structural tube element fabricator
Chesley Lane, Hawthorne, CA (US); Steven J. Floyd, Monterey Park, CA (US); Talbot P. Thrasher, Coatesville, PA (US); Timothy R. Stone, Torrance, CA (US); and Vernon M. Benson, Morgan, UT (US)
Assigned to NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION, Falls Church, VA (US)
Filed by NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION, Falls Church, VA (US)
Filed on Jan. 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/162,152.
Prior Publication US 2024/0253299 A1, Aug. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. B29C 64/147 (2017.01); B29C 64/188 (2017.01); B29C 64/205 (2017.01); B29K 307/04 (2006.01); B29K 309/08 (2006.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01)
CPC B29C 64/147 (2017.08) [B29C 64/188 (2017.08); B29C 64/205 (2017.08); B29K 2307/04 (2013.01); B29K 2309/08 (2013.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A machine for manufacturing a tube element including spaced apart tape strips, said machine comprising:
a first shaft extending in a direction and including a first end and a second end;
a disk mounted to the first end of the first shaft;
a motor coupled to the second end of the first shaft through a gear assembly, said motor operable to rotate the first shaft; and
a first plate mounted to the first shaft and being rotated therewith, said first plate including a plurality of spools mounted to and disposed around the first plate, wherein a separate one of the strips is wound on each spool, said plurality of spools being rotated in a manner so that the tape strips ride in a spaced apart manner around the disk to form the tube element.